Defining Dofollow vs. Nofollow: Which One Passes “Link Juice”?
For the “Chief Everything Officer,” the concept of Link Equity Strategy can be simplified into one word: trust. In the world of SEO, a dofollow backlink is a standard hyperlink that tells search engine crawlers, “I trust this website. Please pass a portion of my authority to it.”
This transfer of authority is often called “Link Juice.” * Dofollow Links: These are the default. They act as a vote of confidence that directly influences your search rankings.
- Nofollow Links: These contain a small piece of code (rel=”nofollow”) that tells Google to ignore the link for ranking purposes.
Key Takeaways
| Problem | Action | Outcome |
| Your content is great but doesn’t rank on Page 1. | Secure high-quality dofollow backlinks. | Increased “Link Juice” and higher search visibility. |
| Uncertainty about which links pass authority. | Audit your profile for dofollow vs. nofollow attributes. | A clear understanding of your site’s true ranking power. |
| Your backlink profile looks “suspicious” to Google. | Balance dofollow links with natural nofollow signals. | A safe, stable, and penalty-resistant SEO foundation. |
Why Dofollow Links are the Primary Drivers of Search Rankings
Google’s original algorithm, PageRank, was built on the idea that the web is a meritocracy. The more “votes” (dofollow links) a page receives from other reputable sites, the more important it must be.
In 2026, while search has become more complex with AI and E-E-A-T, dofollow links remain the “currency” of the internet. They are the primary way search engines discover new content and determine which pages deserve to sit at the top of the search results. Without dofollow links, even the best content can remain invisible in a competitive market.
How to Check if a Link is Dofollow Using Your Web Browser
You don’t need expensive software to audit your links. You can check any link on a page in seconds:
- Right-click on the clickable text.
- Select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element.”
- Look at the HTML code (the <a> tag).
- If you see rel=”nofollow”, it is a nofollow link. 5. If you don’t see any “rel” attribute (or if it says rel=”dofollow”), it is a dofollow link.
The Role of Dofollow Links in Building Your Site’s Domain Authority
“Domain Authority” is a metric used by SEOs to predict how well a website will rank. The single biggest factor in raising this score is the number of unique, high-quality dofollow referring domains pointing to your site.
When you earn a dofollow link from a site like Forbes or The New York Times, you are receiving a massive injection of authority. Over time, these links accumulate, making it easier for every new piece of content you publish to rank higher and faster. This is why we prioritize high-authority outreach in our The Ultimate Guide to Backlinks.
Understanding the Newer “Sponsored” and “UGC” Link Attributes
In recent years, Google introduced two new attributes to help differentiate link types:
- rel=”sponsored”: For links that are advertisements or paid placements.
- rel=”ugc”: For links within User Generated Content, like forum posts or blog comments.
Google treats these similarly to “hints.” While they may not pass as much raw authority as a pure editorial dofollow link, they still provide valuable context to search engines.
Why a Healthy Link Profile Needs a Mix of Different Link Types
While dofollow links are the ones that “move the needle,” a profile that is 100% dofollow looks unnatural to Google’s AI-driven spam filters. In the real world, people link to things in various ways—sometimes they use social media (nofollow), sometimes they comment on a forum (UGC), and sometimes they write a guest post (dofollow).
A Natural Link Profile should ideally consist of a healthy mix. We typically recommend a split of roughly 70% dofollow and 30% nofollow/other to ensure your site remains safe from over-optimization penalties.
Common Myths About Dofollow Links and Google Penalties
One common myth is that “buying” dofollow links will get you instantly banned. In reality, Google’s systems are more likely to simply ignore low-quality paid links than to issue a manual penalty.
However, “Link Schemes”, such as excessive link exchanges or using automated software to blast dofollow links across the web, are high-risk. The key to a modern Link Equity Strategy is focusing on earned dofollow links from relevant, high-traffic websites.
FAQ
Do I need to add a special tag to make a link Dofollow?
No. By default, every link you create in a CMS like WordPress is dofollow. You only need to add code if you want to make it “nofollow” or “sponsored.”
Are Nofollow links completely useless for SEO?
Absolutely not. They drive referral traffic, build brand awareness, and contribute to a natural link profile. Google also treats them as “hints” for discovery and context.
How many Dofollow links should my homepage have?
There is no “magic number.” It depends on your competition. We recommend using competitive benchmarking to see how many referring domains the top 3 results in your niche have.
Should internal links always be Dofollow?
Yes. You should almost always keep internal links dofollow to help search engines crawl your site and distribute authority between your own pages.
Conclusion
Dofollow backlinks are the lifeblood of your search rankings. By understanding how to secure and manage them as part of a broader Link Equity Strategy, you can build a website that search engines recognize as a trusted authority.
Ready to dominate your niche? Explore The Ultimate Guide to Backlinks to start building your authority or learn How to Build a Natural Link Profile to keep your growth safe and sustainable.